Soil & Water holds 80th annual meeting

Directors were elected and awards were presented during Thursday’s 80th annual meeting of the Livingston County Soil and Water Conservation District held at the Pontiac Elks Lodge.

Chuck Hanley and Marcus Maier were nominated and approved for LCSWCD directors. Directors are elected to serve two-year terms and required to attend all monthly board meetings and committee meetings.

Chairman Lee Bunting explained the state reduced the district’s operations funding last year and they are trying to get that reinstated for the new fiscal year. Bunting said they have good support from the local county board.

“We appreciate that,” said Bunting.

Those receiving Partners in Conservation awards included: Denise Plenert, a St. Mary’s teacher; Matt Boucher of Boucher Farms and Potential Ag in Dwight; Jill Kostel and Jean McGuire with The Wetland Initiative and Adam Wyant, NRCS RCPP Coordinator.

The John Dassow family of Chatsworth received the Conservation Farm Family honor.

Retired State Senator Tom Bennett was presented with the Distinguished Service award and the featured speaker was Duane Friend, Illinois Extension Master Naturalist Coordinator and climate specialist. His presentation was titled, “This Isn’t Your Grandparents Farming Weather.”